Catherine Elizabeth Maymon, Mother of Archbishop Mark

Catherine Elizabeth Maymon, beloved mother of His Eminence, Archbishop Mark of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania, fell asleep in the Lord on the morning of Friday, November 4, 2016.

The following In Memoriam, written by Archbishop Mark, was posted on the web site of the Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania. Additional information will be posted as it is received.

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Catherine Elizabeth Maymon was born December 26, 1930 to Martin and Lizzie [Hilgert] Hoffman and raised on a farm in Southern Indiana, where she faithfully attended the Roman Catholic Church. She was preceded in her passage to eternal life by her parents, her brother Owen Hoffman, sister Dorothy Parker and her husband of 59 1/2 years, John L Maymon.

She was a loving and devoted daughter, wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She loved to sew as well as cross stitch. She sewed clothing for her daughters, quilts for her children and grandchildren. Raising eight children, she also canned green beans, tomatoes, sauerkraut, pickles, corn, apple sauce, apple butter, apple jelly, strawberry jam and peaches.

Catherine and her husband John took the kids camping almost every weekend during the summers. Can you imagine all the packing of clothes and food every week and then washing for ten? Even while camping, she made sure everyone went to church on Sunday morning. On the camping trips the family fished and water skied. In 1967 they took their seven children at the time to the World’s Fair in Montreal, and generally went to Florida for two weeks many summers. The Florida trips usually included deep sea fishing.

I never heard her gossip, complain or speak ill of anyone. She was a quiet, hard worker. After raising her children, she went to work for Cloth World, managed the store and made many of their model garments for display.

Gatherings for Thanksgiving and Christmas usually was near 50 adults and children. Though we do not grieve as those who do not believe, we will miss the sound of her voice, quiet presence, gentle touch and winning smile. May the Lord receive her into His loving embrace with the souls of the righteous, whence all sickness, all sighing and pain have fled away.

The Orthodox Church in America

The Mission of The Orthodox Church in America, the local autocephalous Orthodox Christian Church, is to be faithful in fulfilling the commandment of Christ to “Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…”